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How UNC, Arkansas played themselves into position for NCAA Tournament
Just a few weeks after it looked like both the North Carolina Tar Heels and Arkansas Razorbacks were on the brink of missing the NCAA Tournament, both teams have played their way right into it.
In the latest "Bracketology" from ESPN insider Joe Lunardi, the Tar Heels are among the First Four Out and the Razorbacks are one of the Last Four In.
North Carolina has won six straight games since an 85-65 loss to Clemson at the beginning of February. They have gone from no chance at the tournament to a signature win away from locking up their spot.
That path begins Saturday when the Tar Heels welcome No. 2 Duke to Chapel Hill for the second matchup between the two this season. Duke handled UNC, 87-70 in the first matchup, but anything can happen when the two meet up.
These UNC vs Duke moments will give you chills pic.twitter.com/9dzcOn4xUP
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) February 8, 2025
For Arkansas, its win on the road against Vanderbilt on Tuesday night may have very well locked them into the tournament. It got the Razorbacks to 7-10 in the conference and their fifth win in Quad 1 games.
If Arkansas has not yet proven to the selection committee that it is worthy, it has one more chance to prove a point in the regular season finale on Saturday against No. 25 Mississippi State.
A win over the Bulldogs would be yet another Quad 1 victory for the Razorbacks and would certainly clinch their spot in the tournament.
What a bounce-back win for Arkansas at Vanderbilt.
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 5, 2025
The Hogs get their fifth Quad 1 win of the season over a projected tournament team on the road.
Big win for Coach Cal pic.twitter.com/hG9jWstAh0
After some recent claims that the two teams didn't belong close to the tournament, both iconic programs have scratched and clawed into prime position to return to the "Big Dance" in March.
More must-reads:
- Duke is scariest team in men's college basketball after another blowout win
- Watch: Duke fans beg Cooper Flagg to stay 'one more year' after monster night
- The 'ACC men basketball Player of the Year award' quiz
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Commanders' Jayden Daniels expands on prediction for Terry McLaurin contract standoff
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels raised eyebrows when he said during Monday's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals that he knew unsettled wide receiver Terry McLaurin would "be coming through the door soon." During the latest edition of The Athletic's "Scoop City" podcast, Daniels spoke with NFL insider Dianna Russini about the ongoing contract standoff between McLaurin and the Commanders. "Hundred percent, I feel great (about the situation)," Daniels said about his confidence that he'll have McLaurin as a teammate when Washington opens the season against the New York Giants on Sept. 7. McLaurin remains in the final year of his current deal and requested a trade on July 31 amid his desire for an extension. On Monday, ESPN's Ben Solak revealed that he could not "find anyone who believes wide receiver Terry McLaurin will play for another team in 2025" during a visit to the Commanders during training camp. Furthermore, a Thursday report shared that McLaurin is not among the players who could be made available to would-be buyers before the summer comes to an end. "I just know that it is all gonna work out, that both sides will come to an agreement, and Terry’s gonna be back out here. We’re gonna be throwing some passes to him," Daniels added. Daniels' comments don't erase the fact that, as of Friday morning, there was no indication that McLaurin and the Commanders were close to an agreement. On Wednesday, it was reported that "one person with knowledge of McLaurin’s contract negotiations" said the 29-year-old "has asked for more than" the average annual value attached to the five-year, $150M contract that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf earlier this year. On Friday, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to list the Commanders tied for sixth (with the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers) among the betting favorites at +2000 odds to win Super Bowl LX in February 2026, hence why Washington is in no rush to trade Daniels' favorite target for a future draft asset. Additionally, it appears Daniels understands McLaurin wouldn't forfeit money by sitting regular-season games out if he doesn't have an extension in hand by Week 1.
Giants rookie shines again, completing promising preseason
Preseason football can produce some misleading results, but the New York Giants have to be ecstatic with what they have seen from first-round pick quarterback Jaxson Dart so far. He impressed again on Thursday night against the New England Patriots, before being removed from the game to be evaluated for a concussion. The Giants said he cleared the concussion protocol. Prior to that, however, Dart was showing all of his skills in leading the Giants offense. While his final stat line only shows a 6-for-12 passing performance for 81 yards, some of those incompletions were passes that could — and, perhaps, should — have been caught. He did not get a lot of help from his wide receivers. Even so, he still completed a 50-yard pass to Gunner Olszewski, and then connected with Greg Dulcich for a touchdown on a laser of a pass. Along with the passing, Dart also showed off his ability to run with a 23-yard gain. The only downside to that run, however, is that it ended his night when his head hit the ground, resulting in him leaving the game to be evaluated for the potential concussion. Dart does not figure to be in serious competition for the starting job as veteran Russell Wilson seems to have that locked down, at least for now. But Dart has done everything he can in the preseason to show that he has the ability to play at the NFL level. Including his performance on Thursday, he leaves the preseason having completed 32-of-47 passes for 372 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and also ran six times for 52 yards and a touchdown. It is hard for a rookie to do better than that in their first look in the NFL. The Giants have been searching for a long-term quarterback solution ever since Eli Manning retired and have gone through a revolving door of bad options. They are hoping Dart can finally put an end to that for the foreseeable future. There is still a long way to go before he gets to that level, but he has certainly made a great first impression.
Blackhawks make gargantuan commitment to young forward
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